Apostrophe: Figure of Speech - Definition, Uses & Examples

Lesson Overview

• Apostrophe - Definition
• Use of Apostrophe as a Figure of Speech
• How to Identify Apostrophe In A Sentence
• Examples of Apostrophe in Literature
• Examples of Apostrophe in Poetry
• Apostrophe - A Figure of Speech Assessment

The apostrophe is not just for contractions and possessives; it's also a powerful figure of speech. It adds emotion and drama to writing, allowing authors to personify concepts and connect deeply with readers. Used in everything from Shakespearean plays to modern poetry, the apostrophe expresses feelings like grief, love, and anger.

Apostrophe - Definition

An apostrophe is a figure of speech in which a speaker or writer directly addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or an inanimate object. It is a sudden digression in the form of an address to someone or something absent or non-existent.

Key Characteristics:

• The speaker or writer speaks directly to the entity, often using "O" or the entity's name.
• An apostrophe is often used to express strong emotions, and it is often used in monologues.
  

Example:

• "O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory?" - 1 Corinthians 15:55
  

This apostrophe directly addresses "Death" and "Grave" as if they were persons, expressing a challenge and defiance towards them.

Use of Apostrophe as a Figure of Speech

Apostrophe helps writers and speakers to heighten emotion, personify abstract concepts, and engage their audience. Here's a closer look at how it can be used effectively: 

1. Expressing Intense Emotions

Apostrophe allows for a direct outpouring of emotions, bypassing the usual constraints of dialogue or description. It enables writers to express grief, joy, love, anger, or despair in a raw and immediate way.  

• Example: "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?" - Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet expresses her longing and frustration.
  

2. Personifying Abstract Concepts or Inanimate Objects  

By addressing abstract ideas or inanimate objects as if they were persons, apostrophe gives them human qualities and allows for a more direct interaction with them.  

• Example: "O Time, thou must untangle this, not I" - from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, where Time is addressed as if it can solve problems. 
  

3. Creating a Dramatic Effect

Apostrophe can create a dramatic pause or shift in a text, drawing attention to a particular idea or emotion. It can also serve as a way to break the fourth wall and address the audience directly.  

• Example: "Oh, happy dagger, / This is thy sheath" - Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, speaking to the dagger she will use to take her life.
  

4. Adding a Lyrical or Poetic Quality

Apostrophe is often used in poetry and prose to add a lyrical or elevated tone. It can create a sense of intimacy, reflection, or heightened emotionality.  

• Example: "O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being" - Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind" addresses the wind with reverence and awe.
  

5. Highlighting a Theme or Idea

By addressing an absent entity or concept, apostrophe can highlight a central theme or idea in a work. It can serve as a way to emphasize a particular message or moral.  Example: In John Donne's sonnet "Death be not proud," Death is addressed as a powerless figure, emphasizing the poet's belief in the immortality of the soul.

How to Identify Apostrophe In A Sentence

Learning to identify an apostrophe enhances your understanding of how writers and speakers use this figure of speech to achieve specific effects. Here are some key strategies to help you recognize apostrophe:

• Observe a Sudden Shift: Apostrophe often involves a sudden shift in the flow of a sentence or passage. The speaker or writer may abruptly turn away from the main audience or topic to address something or someone else. This shift can create a sense of surprise or heightened emotion. 
  
• Identify the Addressee: Pay attention to who or what is being addressed. Is it an absent person, an abstract concept, an inanimate object, or a deceased individual? This can be a strong indicator of apostrophe, especially if the addressee is not typically someone you would speak to directly.
  
• Analyze the Language: The language used in apostrophes often reflects the emotional intensity or dramatic purpose of the device. Look for:
  
  • Exclamatory Phrases: Expressions of strong emotion, like "O" or "Oh," are common in apostrophe.
    
  • Personifying Language: If inanimate objects or abstract concepts are given human-like qualities or addressed as if they can understand, it's likely an apostrophe.
    
  • Figurative Language: Apostrophe often employs metaphors, similes, and other figures of speech to create a more vivid and impactful address. 
    
    

Examples of Apostrophe in Literature

From Shakespearean tragedies to modern novels, writers used apostrophes to add depth and drama to their prose.

"Macbeth" by William Shakespeare:

"Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee." - Macbeth speaks to a hallucinated dagger, revealing his inner turmoil and ambition. This apostrophe highlights his descent into madness and foreshadows the violence to come. 

"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley:

"Oh! Stars and clouds and winds, ye are all about to mock me; if ye really pity me, crush sensation and memory; let me become as naught; but if not, depart, depart, and leave me in darkness." - Victor Frankenstein addresses the natural elements, expressing his despair and isolation after creating the monster. This apostrophe emphasizes his emotional turmoil and his disconnection from the natural world.  

"A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens:

"O Liberty, what things are done in thy name!" - Madame Defarge exclaims this during the French Revolution, highlighting the irony of violence committed in the name of freedom. This apostrophe serves as social commentary, questioning the true nature of the revolution.

"Moby Dick" by Herman Melville:

"Aye, whale! thou art there, thou wast ever there, and thou wilt be there! Though in many of thy forms and times, thou hast been cursed and slain, yet thou art not conquered." - Captain Ahab addresses the white whale, Moby Dick, expressing his obsession and determination to defeat it. This apostrophe reveals Ahab's monomania and foreshadows the tragic consequences of his pursuit.

"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood:

"Oh, God, I pray. I pray to God, to whatever God there is, I pray to God to make me good." - Offred, the protagonist, addresses God in a moment of desperation and self-doubt. This apostrophe highlights her struggle for identity and agency in a repressive society, as well as the complex role of faith in her life.

Examples of Apostrophe in Poetry

Many poets employ apostrophe to create emotional intensity, address abstract concepts, and engage readers on a personal level. Here are a few examples  from popular poems. 

"Ode to a Nightingale" by John Keats:

"Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! / No hungry generations tread thee down;" - Keats directly addresses the nightingale, expressing his envy for its immortality and freedom from human suffering. This apostrophe highlights the contrast between the fleeting nature of human life and the enduring beauty of art and nature.

"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas:

"Do not go gentle into that good night, / Old age should burn and rave at close of day; / Rage, rage against the dying of the light." - Thomas addresses his dying father, urging him to fight against death. This apostrophe conveys a powerful message about resisting mortality and embracing life with passion. 

"London, 1802" by William Wordsworth:

"Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: / England hath need of thee: she is a fen / Of stagnant waters" - Wordsworth addresses the long-deceased poet John Milton, expressing his longing for a strong moral voice in a time of societal decline. This apostrophe highlights the poet's admiration for Milton and his critique of contemporary England. 

"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot:

"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' / Let us go and make our visit." - Prufrock addresses an unknown listener, possibly himself or the reader, creating a sense of intimacy and inviting them into his internal world. This apostrophe highlights his indecisiveness and anxiety.

"Daddy" by Sylvia Plath:

"Daddy, I have had to kill you. / You died before I had time-" - Plath addresses her deceased father, expressing complex emotions of love, anger, and resentment. This apostrophe is central to the poem's exploration of grief, trauma, and the search for identity.

Apostrophe - A Figure of Speech Assessment

Exercise 1: Read each sentence carefully and determine whether it uses apostrophe (as a figure of speech). If it does, write "Yes." If it doesn't, write "No."

1. "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?" - Romeo and Juliet
2. The car's engine sputtered and died.
3. "Oh, cruel world, why do you torment me so?"
4. "Dear Diary, today was a good day."
5. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are."
6. She said, "I'm going to the store."
7. "O Death, where is thy sting?" - 1 Corinthians 15:55

Answers:

1. Yes
2. No (This uses apostrophe as a punctuation mark for possession.)
3. Yes
4. No (This is a direct address to a diary, which is an object, but it is present and being written in.)
5. Yes
6. No (This is simply reported speech.)
7. Yes
   

Exercise 2: For each sentence that uses apostrophe, identify who or what is being addressed.

1. "O Liberty, what crimes are committed in thy name!"
2. "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!" - King Lear
3. "Oh, happy dagger, this is thy sheath." - Romeo and Juliet
4. "Frailty, thy name is woman!" - Hamlet
5. "You stupid chair, why are you always in my way?"
6. "Oh, my love, how I miss you!"
7. "Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, / More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child / Than the sea-monster!" - King Lear

Answers:

1. Liberty
2. Winds
3. Dagger
4. Frailty
5. Chair
6. My love (an absent person)
7. Ingratitude